Oh, Avi

GYesI once told Debbie that parenting Avi is sometimes mostly about just keeping him alive. While he doesn't really get into life threatening situations often, he does has an uncanny knack for getting into trouble! 

Last year he got a popcorn kernel stuck in his ear.  Two weeks ago I found another popcorn kernel in his ear. It came out during a struggle with the doctor. Unfortunately, there was another kernel deeper that wouldn't come out. Back to the hospital for Avi.

This week we took advantage of the weather and went to the park. We played a bunch of different games and Avi was running everywhere.  Itai and I finished off our play time with some basketball. When the ball got away from us, Avi three it vack. 

We finished up and I called to Avi, who was now on the top of the playground. He took one step towards us and stopped. Then he looked at me without moving or talking. I knew something was up and headed toward him. Guess what I found...

Yep. My kiddo had become part of the playground equipment. I tried to get him out of there but couldn't. I couldn't leave him, and couldn't send Itai home alone. I was almost as stuck as Avi. I thought about calling 911, but decided to try something else. Every time I moved Avi's finger he winced with pain, so I had to be gentle. Poor kid. I had to get spit all over his finger and slowly pull his hand away. Gross but effective. Sigh.

Good thing he's so darn precious!

Summer's End

What a great summer! We had so much fun. Here's a video of some highlights! https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=em-upload_owner&v=4SSpfjrLc_M

Back to school time!

Ah, it's that time of year!

The boys are all dressed and ready for back to school! 

It turns out that I'm heading back to school too. I start a new job at a middle school the first week of September! Yikes!

Man Alive, He's Five!

Itai's birthday came an went.  He could not have been more excited to turn five.  He said, "I can't believe I waited patiently for a whole year!"

It's been a pretty big year for the guy.  This year he:

Made some great friends!

Learned to swim!

Learned to write some words!

Learned to sight read!

Learned to ride his bike! (No training wheels ever!!)

Debbie said he's not little anymore.  In a lot of ways he's really not little anymore.  He gets his own outfits in the morning, dresses himself, gets his own food, locks up behind himself ("So Avi won't get the food."), and even helps cook occasionally.

This big boy answered our annual questions with a few surprises this year.

What scares you the most?
"Almost getting sliced by a knife.  That's way too scary.  And falling down from someplace really high."

What makes you happy?
"When you don't see me."  He has an invisibility fascination right now.  "Also playing ninjas and riding my bike make me happy."

What do you want most?
"Most I want you to never see me, so no one could ever know I'm coming."  I get to pretend he is invisible at least 20 minutes a day lately.

What do you want to be when you grow up?
"Right now I want to be a superhero."

What is your favorite place?
"Right now Scheels...and Disneyland!"

What is your favorite thing about Mommy?
"Helping her.  I like helping her do a lot of things."

What is your favorite thing about Abba?
"That you tell the goodest stories ever!  I love Ghost Elementary!"

What is your favorite thing about Avi?
"Him playing with me?"

What is your favorite thing about yourself?

"Trying to do things that I don't think I can do, and doing it!"

He's such a great kid.  He's a iPad-hogging, video-game-loving, bike-riding, rule-stickler, toy-spreading, mess-making, bug-fearing, life-loving five year old.

We're so happy to have him in our family!

Itai Rules

Itai's transient career goal is to "rule the universe."  He may not reach that goal, but he's well on his way to ruling the house.  Like Avi, Itai has a book of rules that seem to make life a bit easier.

1.  Superheroes make everything better.

2.  "Do not laugh when I am cute!"

3.  The best joke is "put this under there." :)  Oh, and it will be told 100 times if it's told once!

4.  Sleeping is no fun.  "It takes too much time to sleep all night."

5.  Everything is more fun with dress ups.

6.  Don't skimp on the story time.

7.  Save some of the story for tomorrow.

8.  There's always something to talk about...unless there is a stranger there.

9.  There's barely ever room for dinner, but there's always room for desert!

10.  If it's animated, lets watch it.

11.  Always whistle when something important happens, just so I don't miss it.

12.  Let me try it.

13.  We never give up.

14.  Last on in is a robin's egg!

15.  I get to change what I want to be when I grow up because I'm still young.
 

Avi Rules

Like most kids, Avi has a set of rules that, if followed, make life a little smoother.  Wanna know what to expect with Avi?  Well, here's some clues.

1.  Food is communal.  Very communal.

2.  I reserve the right to climb on, jump on, hug, follow, and pester any person I like.  Once you have received a "liked" designation you will likely retain this designation for life.

3.  Every environment is to be thoroughly explored, paced, climbed, run.  Every single inch, every single minute.

4.  Fruit-good.  Meat-bad.

5.  Hugs and kisses must be born spontaneously.  Ask if you want, but you might not like the answer.

6.  Clothing is optional.  No shirt, no shoes, no problem.

7.  Water is better than land.  (Clothes may disappear here.)

8.  Trampolines are better than land.  (Clothes may disappear here.)

9.  Furniture is better than land.  (Clothes may disappear here.)

10.  Any unsupervised time means something may be eaten, broken, lost, or worse.

11.  I am not responsible for lost or damaged items.

12.  4:00 am is a perfectly acceptable time to wake up.

13.  4:01 am is a perfectly acceptable time to jump on another person and ask for pancakes and fruit...or hot dogs...or ice cream.

14.  When it is time for bed, it is time for bed.  No playing around.

15.  A little popcorn goes a long way.  Normally all over the house.

Water, Water, Everywhere

We decided to take a small break from our almost daily swimming to try out something different.

 Itai wasn't convinced at first.

 In fact, he was down. right. grumpy!

 Avi on the other hand didn't need much convincing.

 You could say he was in his element.

After a few minutes they were both very happy and I was just as wet as they were.

 Itai practiced some karate chops...

 And strikes...

 And ninja kicks.

 While Avi was in the thick of it.

 Can you see Itai in this one?  He's looking up at the water in delight.  And some kid is in the foreground pretending to be the focus of the picture. :)

In the end, both boys decided they loved the splash pad!